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                            February 7, 2013Voters Rate Spending, Job Creation Higher in Importance Than Gun Control
Voters rate government spending and job creation as far more important issues than gun control, but the Political Class disagrees. Rasmussen Reports has been asking voters to rate the importance of 10 core issues in surveys for years, but given news developments, we’ve now added five more issues to that list – job creation, the environment, government spending, issues affecting small business and gun control.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Likely U.S. Voters consider government spending a Very Important issue. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 4-5, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 7, 2013At last, Republicans Make Their Case to Main Street By Michael Barone
The House Republicans, in serious trouble with public opinion as they blinked facing the "fiscal cliff" over New Year's, seem suddenly to be playing a more successful game -- or rather, games -- an inside game and an outside game.
The inside game can be described by the Washington phrase "regular order." What that means in ordinary American English is that you proceed according to the rules.

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                            February 6, 201339% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
For the second week in a row, 39% of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, February 3.
The latest finding is unchanged from the previous week, the highest level measured so far this year. Still, confidence is down from 43% the week prior to President Obama’s reelection, the highest level measured in over five years of weekly tracking. This time last year, only 29% said the country was heading in the right direction.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national telephone survey of 3,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen January 28-February 3, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 6, 201334% Expect Lower Unemployment in a Year
One-in-three adults now expects unemployment to be lower a year from today, the highest level of optimism in nearly two years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of American Adults expect lower unemployment rates in a year, up from 30% in December and the highest finding since January 2011.  Thirty percent (30%) think unemployment will be higher in a year, down from December’s all-time high of 43%. Just as many (31%) think the unemployment level will remain about the same, up eight points from the prior survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge! Answers due by 11:59pm ET on Feb. 6, 2013.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 3-4, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 6, 2013Obama Earns Mixed Marks on Taxes, Spending
Voters give President Obama mixed reviews when it comes to taxes and government spending but think he's doing a slightly better job on the revenue side.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the president’s handling of issues related to taxes as good or excellent, while 39% give him a poor rating in this area. 
Similarly, 39% consider his handling of government spending to be good or excellent, but 45% think he’s doing a poor job. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 6, 201343% View Sales Tax As Fairest Kind of Tax
Americans tend to consider a sales tax the fairest kind of tax and are least happy with income and property taxes.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of American Adults, when given four chief types of taxation, view a sales tax as the one that is most fair. Twenty-six percent (26%) rate an income tax as fairest, while six percent (6%) feel that way about property taxes and 5% consider a payroll tax the most fair. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge! Answers due by 11:59pm ET on Feb. 6.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 6, 2013Most Believe Political Leaders Put U.S. Troops At Risk Too Often
Americans continue to believe that our nation’s elected politicians favor a far more interventionist foreign policy than the public supports.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe our political leaders send U.S. soldiers into harm’s way too often. Just five percent (5%) think the policy makers don’t use the nation’s military might often enough. Twenty-seven percent (27%) believe the balance is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 6, 2013Ban This! Ban That! Ban This and That! By John Stossel
I like to bet on sports. Having a stake in the game, even if it's just five bucks, makes it more exciting. I also like playing poker. "Unacceptable!" say politicians in much of America. "Gambling sometimes leads to 'addiction,' destitute families!"
Well, it can.
So politicians ban it. It's why we no longer see a poker game in the back of bars. Half the states even ban poker between friends -- though they rarely enforce that.

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                            February 5, 2013Just 15% Think Today’s Children Will Be Better Off Than Their Parents
Optimism about the future of today’s children continues to hover around all-time lows. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 15% of American Adults believe today’s children will be better off than their parents, but 61% disagree. Twenty-four percent (24%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on January 30-31, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 5, 201356% Support Right to Choose Your Own Social Security and Medicare Retirement Age
Most voters continue to believe Americans should be able to choose their own Social Security and Medicare retirement age, but support is down from two years ago. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think that, as long as they are able to cover the cost of their decision, people should have the right to pick their own Social Security and Medicare retirement age. Those who want to retire earlier could pay more in Social Security taxes now. Those who would prefer lower taxes today could pay less in taxes and retire later. Twenty-four percent (24%) don’t think Americans should have that option, while another 19% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge! Answers due by 11:59pm ET on Feb. 6.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 5, 201311% Say U.S. Should Be World’s Policeman
Very few voters think the United States should take on the responsibility of ensuring peace and democracy in the world, a view that has changed little over the years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 11% of voters think the United States should be the world’s policeman, virtually unchanged from findings in 2011 and 2009. Seventy-two percent (72%) disagree, but 17% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 5, 201349% Think They Personally Pay More Than Their Fair Share in Taxes
Half of Americans still think they pay more than they should in taxes and question the fairness of the current tax system.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of American Adults believe that, compared to people who make more or less than they do, they pay more than their fair share of taxes. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree and don’t think they pay more than their fair share. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Play this week’s Rasmussen Challenge! Answers due by 11:59pm ET on Feb. 6.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 5, 201370% Want Navy to Protect U.S., Not Be 'Global Force for Good'
New recruiting commercials present the U.S. Navy as "a global force for good," a description that aggravates some policy analysts.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that it doesn’t do too well in the court of public opinion either. Seventy percent (70%) of Likely U.S. Voters nationwide believe the Navy’s primary mission is to protect and defend the United States. Only 20% prefer having the Navy serve as a global force for good. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 31-February 1, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 5, 2013'Baby Bust' Baloney By Froma Harrop
America's alleged "baby bust" is pushing the country over "a demographic cliff." So argues Jonathan V. Last in The Wall Street Journal. Stacking one highly debatable claim on the next, Last builds a palace of hooey, in the basement of which sits a conservative agenda that's not very conservative.
Here are the agreed-on facts: America's fertility rate -- the number of children born by the average woman -- has dipped below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. Were it not for immigrants' having more children, it would be lower still. All arrows point to it going down further, as the Latino fertility rate plummets. (In Mexico, it's at the replacement level.)

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                            February 4, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 44%, Republicans 38%
Democrats hold a six-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending February 3, 2013.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 
The national telephone survey of 3,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from January 28-February 3, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 4, 201349% Say Wealthy Americans Pay Less Than Fair Share in Taxes
Americans are less likely to think wealthy taxpayers aren’t paying their fair share, but most still believe the middle class pays a larger share of its income in taxes than the wealthy do.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 24% of U.S. Adults believe wealthy Americans pay their fair share in taxes. Twenty-one percent (21%) think wealthy Americans pay more than their fair share in taxes, while half (49%) feel they pay less than their fair share. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 4, 201357% Say Economic Concerns Bigger Threat Than Terrorists, Military Attack
While politicians in Washington wrangle about the new secretary of Defense and a reduction in growth of the military budget, most voters see economic concerns as a much bigger threat to the nation. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters believe economic challenges represent the biggest threat to the United States. Half as many (27%) see terrorist attacks as the biggest threat. Only six percent (6%) believe the biggest concern comes from conventional military attacks. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 4, 201375% View Hagel’s Confirmation As Likely
Despite his weak performance at last week’s Senate confirmation hearings, opinions of Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel are little changed, and most voters think he is likely to be confirmed.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of Hagel, while 32% view him unfavorably. Thirty-five percent (35%) still don’t know enough about the former Republican senator from Nebraska to venture any kind of opinion. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in the new Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard to find out.  
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 2-3, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 4, 201380% Rate Their Health Care As Good or Excellent
Voters continue to give high marks to the health care they receive but worry that the U.S. health care system is going to get worse in the near future.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 80% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the overall quality of the health care they receive as good or excellent. Just three percent (3%) consider the health care they receive as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 2-3, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 4, 2013Fewer Dollars and Babies Threaten Social Programs By Michael Barone
Our major public policies are based on the assumption that America will continue to enjoy growth. Economic growth and population growth.
Through most of our history, this assumption has proved to be correct. These days, not so much.
Last week, the Commerce Department announced that the gross domestic product shrunk by 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. And the Census Bureau reported that the U.S. birth rate in 2011 was 63.2 per 1,000 women age 15 to 44, the lowest ever recorded.